Blogs

Responding to the important Climate Change Committee report on reducing emissions from land use and preparing for climate change, I thought it best not to get too aeriated by the tweet from chief executive Chris Stark to the effect that now is the time to start thinking about how we use land.
Just f...

I suppose inviting a controversialist to chair anything is a way of securing attention for it but, as a process, it is not without its pitfalls. It is, on the other hand, a good way of diverting attention from some other aspect of the process you wish people to ignore.
Professor Sir Roger Scruton, n...

Population growth, housing challenges and climate change are all things we need to take very seriously, nowhere more so than in the location of new development.
So it is really disappointing when a well-intentioned and carefully thought-out initiative intended to address these issues comes up with t...

San Francisco transit will run on renewables

Added on 12 December 2017

The Bay Area Rapid Transit system in San Francisco is expecting to be 90 percent powered by renewable energy following a new electricity deal.

BART uses around 400,000MW annually, more power than a small city uses. Two 20-year agreements, with Nextera Energy for wind power and with Recurrent Energy for solar, will see renewable power for the rapid transit system. The percentage is, however, likely to drop to 75 percent by 2025 as the system grows.

“Not only will BART soon be powered by almost 100 percent renewable electricity, but we’re doing it cheaper than by buying fossil fuels,” said BART board director Nick Josefowitz.

The move follows the passing of a bill by the California Senate in 2015 allowing renewable energy purchase.

“Without a doubt I’m thrilled to see the implementation of the bill,” said mayoral candidate and former senator Mark Leno. “I expect it will be a model for other transit agencies throughout California and across the country.”